Chief Minister Kamal Nath has ordered an inquiry into a question asked in the social science paper of the State Board class 10 examination that referred to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as “Azad Kashmir”. Two officials have been suspended.
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While the first row containing five options in the “match the following” question mentioned ‘India-Pakistan War’, the second row had “Azad Kashmir” as one of the options. In another question, students were asked to identify “Azad Kashmir” on the map of India.
“As soon as the information of the objectionable question reached Chief Minister Kamal Nath, he ordered an inquiry into it,” said State Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja.
Mr. Nath had said immediate action must be taken against whoever had set the paper and they should be suspended. “The Chief Minister said such incidents will not be tolerated,” said Mr. Saluja.
Later, School Education Minister Prabhuram Choudhary on Twitter said the teacher and moderator responsible for setting the paper containing the objectionable question had been suspended.
“The officials have suspended the Commissioner, School Education Department, for negligence and not showing expected attentiveness,” said a note by S.K. Chourasia, Public Relations Officer, State Board of Secondary Education.
Assailing the Congress government, State BJP media incharge Lokendra Parashar said Mr. Nath must answer whether all this was being done with his agreement.
In the preliminary examination of the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission in January, a contentious question had presumed criminal nature of the Bhil tribe, drawing ire of Mr. Nath, who had clarified he respected tribals and ordered action against erring officials.
Taking suo motu cognizance, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights directed the State government to submit a report within a week on the incident it termed a “criminal offence” prima facie.
Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, writing to the Secretary, State Board of Secondary Education, said, “ Such kinds of questions are potentially misleading which can negatively influence the minds of children, since ‘Azad Kashmir’ is not a constitutionally approved phrase/term”.
He said the usage of such terms was viewed as their endorsement, which was not in consonance with the Constitution.
The Commission asked the government whether such terms were part of the school curriculum, and if not, how come they were used in the question paper.
